Lv Baitian…
Isn’t this the Sect Leader who just perished?
Gu An imagined many possibilities, but his expression did not change much. Curious, he asked, “Since he is a distant relative of your father, why not arrange a better place? This Medicine Valley is both dirty and tiring.”
Gu Yu laughed, “The Supreme Sect wasn’t founded by my dad. Being placed in this Medicine Valley is already better than the Outer Sect’s Medicine Valley.”
Looking at him, he seemed unaware of Elder Tian’s true identity.
Gu An also couldn’t outright refuse. Wouldn’t refusing imply that he knew Elder Tian’s real identity?
Gu Yu dragged Gu An upstairs, and throughout, Elder Tian did not look back at Gu An even once.
After entering the room, Gu Yu closed the door, turned around excitedly, and asked, “How is it? Should the book be out by now?”
Gu An smiled and said, “It’s out. After much thought, I have made you the protagonist.”
“Really?”
“Really, you’ll see it soon.”
Gu An smiled as he nodded. Pan An’s name was already famous throughout the Taicang Immortal Cultivation World. His second book would definitely be heavily promoted by the Supreme Sect, especially with ‘Supreme Sect’ mentioned inside.
This book was to satisfy the high-ranking officials, and after this, Gu An would not write about them again.
It’s worth mentioning that, this time upon releasing the book, the Book Collection Hall allocated an additional 20% of the profits to him, granted by the Supreme Sect.
Hearing Gu An’s words, Gu Yu became extremely excited. He immediately pulled out a Spirit Stone from his Storage Bag, and slammed it onto the table, saying, “Thanks!”
Gu An’s eyes turned to the Spirit Stone on the table, and his brows lifted.
Such strong spiritual energy!
Gu Yu smiled proudly, “This is a Supreme-Grade Spirit Stone, worth a hundred Top-Grade Spirit Stones. I only have two in total, given to me by my mother. It’s a genuine token of appreciation. You just focus on writing, and I can handle anything else for you!”
A hundred Top-Grade Spirit Stones?
Gu An was stunned. This guy was truly lavish.
The disparity between the rich and poor in the Immortal Cultivation World was just too vast!
This one Supreme-Grade Spirit Stone was equivalent to a million Low-Grade Spirit Stones. A Servant Disciple’s monthly salary was only one Low-Grade Spirit Stone!
Such a wealthy house!
Gu An felt a pang of envy, then accepted the Supreme-Grade Spirit Stone and smiled, “I won’t disappoint you.”
Gu Yu was very excited, and began to inquire about the details of the book, but Gu An kept his mouth sealed, increasing his anticipation.
It wasn’t long before Gu Yu left; Gu An guessed he was heading to the Book Collection Hall.
After bidding Gu Yu farewell, Gu An approached Elder Tian, introduced himself, and Elder Tian did the same, very respectfully, showing no signs of being the Sect Leader of the Supreme Sect.
Elder Tian, at 742 years old, had a lifeline of 850 years, meaning he could only live another 108 years.
Gu An speculated it was related to an injury. With the Sect Leader’s cultivation, his lifespan should be close to two thousand years.
Afterward, Gu An took him for a walk around, explaining the workings of Medicine Valley, and what he should normally do.
Elder Tian listened intently, occasionally asking about the species of medicinal herbs they passed by. He genuinely seemed interested in a farmer’s life.
Could it be that he had fallen from grace due to deviation?
When Gu An heard about the Sect Leader’s misfortune, he instinctively thought the Sect Leader was sabotaged, especially with the ongoing strife between him and other elders for many years. But seeing Elder Tian’s condition didn’t seem so.
Life Span Detection wouldn’t lie to him; this person was indeed Sect Leader Lv Baitian!
Elder Tian’s arrival didn’t change the daily routine of the Third Medicine Valley; Zhen Qin and the other two spent most of their time cultivating, hardly interacting with him. However, every time Gu An returned, he always chatted with Elder Tian.
Half a year swiftly passed.
Autumn arrived, leaves falling and drifting into Tianya Valley.
Gu An stood on a small path between gardens, watching three Monkey Demons sweep the fallen leaves, in the distance, Luo Hun sat on a hillside, holding the Green Hero Travelogue, absorbed in reading, beside him stood his spear, with wisps of spiritual energy entering it, forming a faint whirlwind.
Suddenly.
Gu An sensed something and glanced towards the distance.
He looked away just as quickly.
Before long, a figure approached from the mouth of the valley, dressed in a black and white robe, debonair, holding a folding fan in his hand.
Li Xuandao!
After many years, the Emperor of Taicang still boasted an impressive presence.
Gu An turned his head, launching a Life Span Detection.
The ninth layer of Divinity Transformation Realm!
Luo Hun on the hillside also noticed the arrival of Li Xuandao and quickly got up, tucked the Green Hero Travelogue into his Storage Bag, and then carried his spear down the hill.
Luo Hun arrived before Li Xuandao first to greet him, followed by Gu An.
As Li Xuandao walked towards the Medicine Valley Pavilion, he turned to Gu An beside him and asked, “So, how is it? Are you satisfied with this Medicine Valley of mine?”
Gu An replied, “It’s very good, beyond my expectations. Some of the high-rank medicinal herbs are even unheard of to me, fortunately, Your Majesty provided me with a copy of the Medicinal Herb Chronicles.”
“Hm? What did I instruct you before?”
“Uncle.”
“That’s more like it.”
Li Xuandao laughed heartily. Luo Hun, standing by his side, had a subtle expression.
Uncle?
Luo Hun seemed to recall something, his expression turning peculiar.
The three of them arrived at the pavilion laughing and talking. Li Xuandao sat down at the stone table while Luo Hun immediately poured him wine.
Li Xuandao raised his hand to signal Gu An to sit down as well. He looked at Gu An and asked, “Li Ya should have returned to the Supreme Sect by now, right?”
Gu An nodded and said, “He came back last year.”
“Did he mention anything about his experiences over these years?”
“Yes, Uncle should have sent someone to follow him, right?”
“How dare we send someone to follow him? There are just informers everywhere. Tell me, how could a Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivator escape the soul-possession of a Divinity Transformation Realm Great Cultivator? What secret is he hiding?”
When Li Xuandao asked this, he picked up his wine cup, drained it in one go, and then looked at Gu An with a smile.
Gu An frowned and said, “A secret? He did not tell me, and I could not possibly ask him directly.”
Li Xuandao said with a half-smile, “My son has been mediocre since he was young, the least talented among all my children. Yet, ever since he joined the Supreme Sect, he has soared to great heights and continues to surprise me. I am naturally happy to see his growth, but I fear others might use him.”
Gu An looked at his expression, suddenly finding it hard to judge his attitude towards Li Ya.
But no matter what, Gu An’s heart was definitely with Li Ya.
“Then I will try to inquire indirectly in the future,” Gu An mused, though he only said this; he had no intention of asking.
Li Xuandao nodded in satisfaction, then turned to look at Luo Hun standing beside him and asked with a smile, “Luo Hun, do you think Li Ya has the potential to become Crown Prince?”
Luo Hun’s expression changed slightly, and he said in a deep voice, “I dare not assume too much!”
“You, you’re really no fun,” Li Xuandao shook his head with a chuckle.
He looked at Gu An again, who hastily said, “Uncle, please don’t ask me such things. I wish to avoid trouble and prefer to focus on gardening for you!”
“Hahaha!”
Li Xuandao laughed aloud, picked up a nearby jug of wine, and poured it directly into his mouth, much more boldly than before.
Afterward, he picked up another jug and continued pouring.
Gu An realized that something was amiss—this Emperor was troubled!
Luo Hun noticed it too, and he asked with furrowed brows, “Your Majesty, has something happened?”
After downing three jugs of wine, Li Xuandao laughed and said, “It’s nothing serious. You must have read ‘Investiture of the Gods,’ haven’t you?”
Luo Hun nodded and replied, “It’s well-written, and you like it very much, don’t you?”
“I indeed like it, but recently some have used ‘Investiture of the Gods’ to criticize me, calling me King Zhou. The Li family has ruled for five hundred years; they argue it’s time for a change of emperor, for the Heavenly Destiny to return to the Ji Family.
In recent years, the Ji Family frequently sends their youths out to exterminate demons and gain good reputation, deeply winning the hearts of the people,” Li Xuandao said with a light laugh.
Gu An’s heart skipped a beat.
Luo Hun became furious, speaking sternly, “Your Majesty, who claims the Heavenly Destiny should be with the Ji Family? I am always ready for your command, even if it means killing Pan An, I am willing to go!”
Good grief!
No ‘Green Hero Travelogue’ for you then!
Gu An felt indignant internally, but his expression showed only concern.
Li Xuandao snorted, “Foolish, killing Pan An would only prove I am narrow-minded. I can’t even tolerate a novelist!”
Gu An was very pleased with Li Xuandao’s words.
That’s a wise Emperor!
Don’t worry, Your Majesty, my next book will be ‘Journey to the West,’ featuring an Emperor with the Li surname.
Though ‘Journey to the West’ carries critical undertones, it targets the Jade Emperor, and the depiction of Emperor Li Shimin within the book is quite favorable.
Though no Heavenly Court exists in this world, there is an Immortal Cultivation World. Criticizing the Immortal Cultivation World also fits well, aligning with the expectations the Cultivators have about Pan An, so long as he doesn’t specifically target the Supreme Sect.
As Gu An pondered, Luo Hun remained angry.
“The Prefects of various states all have their own backing, increasingly escaping the control of the court. Now that people’s grievances are rising, using ‘Investiture of the Gods’ to criticize me is probably just their first step. One day, the sword will hang before me.
I need to cultivate my own power; Tianya Valley plays a significant role, you must not disappoint me,” Li Xuandao said with a smile, standing up and walking towards the garden, with Gu An and Luo Hun hurrying after him.
It took three days before Li Xuandao finally departed.
During these days, Li Xuandao always took the opportunity to express his expectations for Li Ya to Gu An.
The more he did so, the more Gu An felt there was more to it.
Anyway, he decided to let it go in one ear and out the other, unmotivated to involve himself in their father-son affairs.
After Li Xuandao left, Gu An also decided to leave. Before leaving, Luo Hun advised him not to bring ‘Investiture of the Gods’ anymore, only ‘Green Hero Travelogue.’
To this, Gu An just chuckled.
…
As seasons changed, another three years passed.
This year, Tianya Valley welcomed its first batch of mature medicinal herbs, and Gu An harvested nearly five thousand years of lifespan, greatly lifting his spirits.
Starting this year, his annual lifespan income was set to skyrocket, and his total lifespan had already exceeded seventy thousand years. He was determined to reach a million years.
One day, Gu An brought Su Han and Zhen Qin to the Outer Sect.
Both of them had reached the Foundation Establishment. Besides their constant cultivation, Gu An had crafted many low-rank elixirs to help them achieve Foundation Establishment smoothly.
After Gu An delivered them to the Hall of Elders in the Outer Sect, he turned and left. Servant Disciples needed to register in the Hall of Elders before they could officially become Outer Disciples.
Just as he walked down a street, a familiar voice called out, “Senior brother, long time no see!”
Gu An turned around to see Lu Jiujia, dressed in the black attire of the Demon Extermination Hall, walking toward him, followed by six Demon Extermination Hall disciples.
“How have you been recently?” Gu An asked with a smile.
Ever since the change in sect leadership, the Demon Extermination Hall’s influence had surged, even surpassing that of the Law Enforcement Hall. It was common to encounter their members in the Outer City.
Lu Jiujia approached him and nodded, “Quite well. Our master just promoted me. Not only has my treatment improved, but my authority has increased too. Senior brother, if you need anything in the future, just come to me.”
He took out a black token from his storage bag and handed it to Gu An.